At this year’s annual I/O developer conference, Google introduced its Visual Positioning System (VPS) for indoor positioning and navigation. Based on Project Tango technology, VPS can be used to position users inside buildings at centimeter accuracy.

Location information management company Yext has filed for its Initial Public Offering (IPO). After Snap’s IPO not too long ago, Yext’s upcoming listing represents another technology company listing where location information is a key component of the business. The company hopes to raise around $100 M with the IPO. Proceeds will be used to grow the business domestically and internationally.

SnapChat developer, Snap Inc., has filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to be traded as a public company. The required paperwork sheds light on how Snap is generating revenue and the main tools it is currently using to do so. While most of Snap’s revenue is generated via advertising, the company highlights the importance of its geo-filter tools as a key content and engagement enabler.

Over two hectic weeks, HERE announced that its ownership structure will change significantly from three German automakers to a group of seven – now including Tencent, NavInfo, GIC and Intel. Additionally, the company announced a partnership with Mobileye.
Tencent’s investment in HERE makes clear the company’s ambitions to utilize location information and technology throughout its business, especially within its consumer applications like WeChat, Maps or QQ in China and beyond.

Prisma Labs, developer of the photo editing Prisma app, is looking for ways to create a community between users. A first attempt, providing filters for Facebook Live broadcasts, was unsuccessful because Facebook revoked access to the necessary APIs.

Bluetooth SIG has announced the latest Bluetooth standard. With Bluetooth 5, the organization is less focused on audio capabilities and more focused on data connectivity between devices in an effort to bolster the role of Bluetooth in IoT applications and devices.

In addition to changes to the interface Uber is changing how and when the company is accessing rider location data. For Uber, increasing the amount of location data is essential to drive the development of its mobility platform – without it, the company will not be able to deliver on the promises made with the app re-design and on its goals as a ubiquitous mobility provider.

Today’s mobile services cannot grow without significant location technology capabilities. In addition to filing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO), Snap Inc. also signed a deal with Foursquare to license the latter’s business location data. Verizon, meanwhile, is acquiring location technology startup SocialRadar to improve its location content across various businesses. Lastly, Uber is utilizing data generated from completed rides to generate local recommendations. Each announcement illustrates how location information is impacting and influencing products, users and service providers.

HERE sees its positioning technology as a key enabler of its growth strategy in the consumer segment. One part of this strategy is to expand the role of the company with device makers – beyond providing mapping content and a routing engine capabilities to developers.

Uber has redesigned its mobile application for users. The redesign aims to simplify the user experience while at the same time creating a platform which will be able to support Uber’s vision of mobility going forward.
The updated application shows how Uber wants to be the hub of mobility for users on the handset – and with it, how the company will be a disruptive force for mobile navigation providers, automotive OEMs and content providers.

Samsung Pay will reach ten markets by the end of 2016, according to the company. New markets include Malaysia, Russia and Thailand. In addition to the new markets, Samsung also announced new features for the app and a partnership with Mastercard to streamline online payments and digital payments at Mastpass-supported Points of Sale. With the inclusion of local discounts and coupon, Samsung is trying to find ways to raise the engagement level for Pay – increasing usage of the app and usefulness for end users.

HERE is adjusting its strategy as the dust after the sale to a consortium of German Auto makers settles. Where previously the company talked about being the Location Cloud of choice for many verticals, HERE now talks about its Open Location Platform.

With three announcements, Google’s waze is adding unique capabilities to its platform. With these new capabilities, waze is moving its strategy of becoming an open traffic and guidance platform for individual drivers and communities alike. The company is also exploring how mobile technologies can be reapplied to waze’s core use case to improve the overall experience.

Over the last two weeks major players in the smartwatch space have announced their latest editions. Samsung released the Gear S3, Garmin, TomTom and Asus added new devices to their fitness-centric portfolio and Apple released the Watch Series 2, the company’s second edition smartwatch. While each device features new capabilities, the announced watches were, in large part, evolutionary devices – still searching for a clear message for end-users. However GPS integration is on the rise with new device launches, opening the door for more independent usage and better tracking functions.

At this year’s IFA in Berlin, Samsung and Asus introduced their latest smartwatches – the Gear S3 and ZenWatch 3, respectively. Just like with past editions of the devices, both companies have to sell potential buyers hard on this device form factor.

HERE CEO Edzard Overbeek has discussed the intention of the map and location cloud provider to broaden the ownership group of the company in the near future. HERE is currently owned by BMW, Audi and Daimler.
There are a number of companies who might consider a significant investment in the company and its capabilities. Potential owners are not limited to other automotive OEMs, but also include internet companies.

Fabric is a new life logging application for iOS, which aims to present a users’ digital life along a timeline while also giving the user to easily search the past. Fabric, which is being developed by former Facebook employees, is the latest application which aims to show mobile users their daily life a long a timeline. However, even though companies like Facebook, Sony and Samsung have developed logging apps, those apps have not reached mainstream. The increased importance of digital assistants and contextual applications could help life logging apps to finally reach more users.

Samsung’s latest Note device, the Galaxy Note 7, is the company’s new flagship device. With it, Samsung hopes to capitalize on the momentum gained earlier in the year with the launch of the Galaxy S 7/edge devices. Pricing will depend on the carrier and availability will begin from August 19th.